Old Mines: Arsenopyrite & Azurite Rockhounding in Josephine County, Oregon

Updated June 2026

Old Mines is a mapped rockhounding spot in Josephine County, Oregon. Reported finds include arsenopyrite, azurite, calcite, chalcopyrite, chrysocolla, and more. Below: coordinates, access notes, nearby spots, and trip-planning links.

Quick details

Access: Permission required
County: Josephine County
State: Oregon
Nearest road: Galice Road
Coordinates: 42.56926, -123.59528

Geology at Old Mines

This spot sits on surficial deposits; Alluvial deposits, mapped as mixed fluvial sediment that formed within roughly the last 3 million years. Sedimentary rock like this erodes unevenly, so the most productive collecting is typically along fresh cuts, badland slopes, and active drainages.

Mapped unit: surficial deposits; Alluvial deposits
Age: 3 Ma to present (Quaternary)
Rock types: mixed fluvial sediment
Elevation: 720 ft

Geologic mapping via Macrostrat and the underlying state geological survey maps (CC BY 4.0). Bedrock at the surface can vary within a mapped unit.

Best time to visit Old Mines

Conditions here are workable year-round, with typical highs from 54°F in winter to 88°F in summer.

Climate normals: NOAA 1991-2020 monthlies, SEXTON SUMMIT station (12 mi away), adjusted for elevation.

Land & collecting status

Permission required before collecting

Requires landowner or agency permission before any collecting. Do not enter without explicit authorization.

Public-land rules vary by agency, season, and field office. The RockHoundR app pulls live BLM, USFS, NPS, and tribal overlays so you can see exactly which agency manages the ground at this spot.

Sources & verification

Spot details combine the public RockHoundR location dataset, normalized mineral labels, agency land-status checks in the app, and community submissions. Coordinates are approximate until verified in the field.

State guidance last verified: April 1, 2026

BLM Oregon/Washington — Rockhounding & mineral material
Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries (DOGAMI)
Oregon Parks and Recreation Department — beach collecting rules
Community submissions reviewed against published agency rules

Found at Old Mines

Each chip opens all spots that produce that material; the encyclopedia link opens the full ID and field guide.

Nearby rockhounding spots

Other rockhounding spots within driving distance of Old Mines.

Across the state line from Old Mines

Old Mines is close enough to the Oregon border that the next-closest rockhounding spots are in a neighboring state. Worth knowing if you are already on the road.

Old Mines FAQ

Where is Old Mines?+

Old Mines is in Josephine County, Oregon, at 42.56926, -123.59528. Nearest road: Galice Road.

What rocks and minerals can you find at Old Mines?+

Old Mines is reported to produce Arsenopyrite, Azurite, Calcite, Chalcopyrite, Chrysocolla, Galena, Gold, Malachite, Pyrite.

Is collecting allowed at Old Mines?+

Permission required before collecting. Requires landowner or agency permission before any collecting. Do not enter without explicit authorization. Always confirm current rules with the managing agency before a trip.

What tools should I bring to Old Mines?+

A rock hammer, gloves, and safety glasses are enough for oxidized copper ground. Look for green and blue staining on weathered rock and in old dump piles.

When is the best time to visit Old Mines?+

Old Mines is workable year-round.

How do I get to Old Mines?+

Open the directions link to navigate to 42.56926, -123.59528 in Google Maps. The nearest road is Galice Road.

More rockhounding in Oregon

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Open Old Mines on the map

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